Splice-bar for rail-joints.



W. P. & S. G. THOMSON. SPLICE BAR FOR RAIL JOINTS.

AAAAAAAAAAA FILED SEPT.1'7, 1907.

. 937,727. Patented 0 1i.19,1909

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W. Pr & S. G. THOMSON.

" SILIGE BAR FOR-RAIL JOINTS. 7 APPLICATION FILED $29117, 190

Patented Oct. 19, 1909. 2 snnn'rs SHEET 2. 1

INVENTORS m. 9. mm 5. G. 3 mm UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILL-1AM P. THOMSON AND SAMUEL G. THOMSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,

ASSIGNORS TO THOMSON-THOMSON COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,

A PARTNERSHIP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

SPLICE-BAR non RAIL-JOINTS.

Patented Oct. 19, 1909.

: Original application filed May 11, 1907, Serial No. 373,062. Divided and this application filed September 17,

1207'. Serial No. 393,367.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that we, WILLIAM P. THOM- SON and SAMUEL G. THOMSON, both of Philadelphia, in the-county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a Y new and'use'ful Splice-Bar for Rail-Joints,

of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in Which Figures 1 to 6, inclusive, are sectional views illustratingdiiferent forms of our improved splice bar.

The present application is a division of iour'pend-ing application Serial No. 373,062,

I filed May 11th, 1907.

the top member joining the foot member at a point adjacent to its outer 'end and adjacent to the outer' edge of the rail base; the object of our invention being. to provide a splice bar having very greatly increased lateral stiffness, and in which the metal is distributed atv the greatestdistance from the 40- tion will more fully hereinafter appear.

horizontal neutral axis ofthe bar, and in a manner to provide for a maximum strength vertically with a minimum amount of metal.

Tothis end,'the upper member of the bar is of gradually increasing thickness toward its upper end, having its least thickness at the .po'intwhere it oins thefoot member, and when a lower member extending below the rail base is employed, said'member is also preferably of increasing thickness toward its lower end.

The object and advantages of our nven- Our invention is susceptible of various modifications, and is applicable to splice bars which are in general of widely varying character provided they retain the essential features of our invention above pointed out and as set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings, we have shown a number of these modifications, but desire it to .be understood that our invention is not limited exclusively thereto. In these drawings we have shown our improved form of bars applied to tee rails, but they may be used in connection with rails of any other sect1on.,

In these drawings, the numeral 2 whereverseendesignates the upper member of the bar, 7

which has a bearing at its upper edge underneath the head A of the rail, and which in all the forms shown is of gradually increasing thickness toward its upper edge, its

which joins the foot member 3. This foot- "member is in the form of an inwardly projecting rib' of greater or less length, which isjshaped to-fit the upper surface of the base flange, the upper member being oined thereto at the outer end of such flange and at a point adjacent to the vertical plane of the outer edge of the rail base.

In the form of our invention shown in Fig.1, the splice bar 2, has a rib or projection 18 at its outer side, 0 posite the edge lower portion forming a contracted neck.

wardly underneath ,the base of the rail and is of increasing-thickness toward its free edge. In the form shown in Fig. 3 the lower member 4 is omitted and the foot member extends to form. the flange 5, which terminates at its lower end in substantially the plane of the bottom surface of the base of the rail.

In the form shown in Fig. 4, the lower member 6 extends inwardly underneath the base flange of the rail in bearing, contact therewith, the lower member being joined" to the foot member by the contracted neck 6. Fig. 5 illustrates another form of the freely depending lower member4, and also another member of somewhat different cross-section,

as will best appear from the drawing. In each of Figs. 4:, 5' and 6, the bar is provided with a spiking flange 7. x

In the form shown in Fig. 6, the lower member 7 extends inwardly'underneath the rail base in bearing contact therewith, and is formed with the depending ortion 8.

It will be noted thatdn al the forms shown the upper member,1s of gradually 1ncreasing thickness toward its upper edge,

and is joined to the foot member 3 at the v Fig. 1, from which it will be seen that the entire bar has just as great lateral stiffness above the rail base as would be present in a bar of the usual angle form Whose top member should be near the web of the rail, and

which had adepending flange directed inwardly under the base of the rail to secure additional lateral stiffness. In fact, the construction herein described secures the greatest possible amount of lateral stiffness above the rail 'base in a manner to resist in a horizontal direction any tendency of the rail ends to move out of alinement.

Where an inwardly extending portion below the rail base isrelied upon for lateral stiffness, this stiflness is so far below the head of the rail that torsional strains are necessarily set up in the bar above the rail base, for the reason that lateral strains on the rail are generated by the wheel flanges bearing against the side of its head, and the resistance to these lateral strains by the top portion of the bar must originate very low in the bar in the memberwhich bears upon the top of the foot of the rail, and in the member extending inwardly beneath the rail base.

The fundamental principle of the tapering upper member is, that the gradual increase in thickness towardthe top affords a much lighter and stiffer member'than can be obtained in any other way. This gradual increase keeps the bulk of the metal near the top, where it is most efficient vertically, and at the same time it permits the joining of the top member to the foot-member adjacent to the outer edge of the rail base with a minimum amount of metal, thus avoiding the use of an excessive amount of metal to provide a'bolting face out near the edge of the rail base. Our invention provides alight and rigid upper member, which affords a preferably vertical bolting face, and which at the same time joins the foot member fitting the top of the rail base at a point far enough out from theweb of the rail to prevent buckling, which feature is fundamental. This latter feature is also of very great importance in the case'jof bars which have depending flanges extending below the base of the rail, since the tapered upper member reaches farther out than is otherwise possible, and

thus transmits the strains to the lower member in such a way" as to cause the entire bar to act. with its full capacity throughout and without any tendency to buckle. These features have hitherto been obtained in part only and by adding an excessive amount of metal. The tapering upper member affords bolting faces of various forms adjacent to the outer edge of the rail base. In all cases, however, these bolting faces have their general direction more nearly approaching the vertical than is possible to attain where a slanting upper member of uniform thickness is used. This feature becomes especially 1 valuable as the bolting face approaches more nearly to the vertical, as in this position in terposed beveled washers are unnecessary, and the bars do not need to be cut or forged to form a vertical face for the bolt heads and nuts. This gradually tapering upper member, then, is most efficient in distributing metal at the greatest distance from the horizontal neutral axis of the bar, in providing a vertical or substantially vertical bolting face adjacent to the outer edge of the rail base, and in general, in causing the various members of the bar to act with their full capacity and without any tendency to buckle out of contact with the top face of the rail base, all of which advantages enable tical and lateral stiffness.

\Vhat we claim is 1. A splice-bar for rails having an upper member with a substantially vertical outer face and an upright face adjacent to the rail web, and a foot member to extend inwardly from a point adjacent to the outer edge of the rail base, said upper member having bolt holes throughit and extending in a downwardly and outwardly direction to the outer end of the foot member and having a substantially flat inner face extending in arlownward and outward .direction from said upright inner faceitoya point below a horizontal plane through the center of the bolt holes. I

2. A splice bar for rails, having an upper member with a substantially vertical bolting face, and av foot member to extend inwardly fron'ia point adjacent to the outer edge of the rail base, said upper member decreasing gradually from the thickness of its thickest portion adjacent to its top and extending in a downward and outward direction to the other endof said foot member;

3. A splice bar for rails, having. memberwith a substantially vertical outer face located adjacent to the outer edge of the rail base, said member having an upper head portion and a lower contracted neck portion to lie-vertically above the outer edge an" upper v of the rail base and thickness from the thickness of the former to the thickness of-the latter.

4. A splice bar for rails, having an upper member lying entirely below the lower outer edge of the rail head and having a substantially vertical outer face, and afoot member to extend inwardly from the outer ed e of the rail base, said upper member exten mg n a downward and outward direction to the outer end of .the foot member.

A splice bar for rails, having an upper member wlth a substantlally vertical outer face, and a foot member, sald upper member f having an upright face to lie adjacent to the rail web and an inner face extending from the lower edge of sald face 1n a downward and outward direction and intersecting the foot member adjacent to the outer edge of the rail base.

6-. A splice bar for rails, having an upper member with a substantially vertical outer face andan upright inner face adjacent to the rail web, and a foot member'to extend inwardly from the outer edge of' the rail .base, said upper member having an inner face extending in a downward and outward direction from its intersection with said upright inner face to a point, adjacent to the outer edge of the rail base.v

7. A splice bar for rails, having an inwardly extending rib to fit' the rail base, and an uppermember with a' substantially vertical outer face, an 11 right inner face adjacent to the rail we and an inner face extending in a downward and outward direction from its intersection with said upright inner face to a point adjacent to the outer edge of the rail base.

8. A splice bar for rails, having an u per base, and an upper member increasing in. thickness gradually and upwardly suflieien tly to equal its greatest thickness,- said member having a substantially vertical outer face and an inner face extendinginwardly and upwardly from the outer end ofsaid foot member to a point adjacent to the rail web. n

10. A splice bar for rails, having an upper member increasing in thickness with suflicient taper to equal the thickness of a top head portion lying adjacent to the rail web,

radually decreasing in said' member having a substantially vertical outer face and an'lnwardlyextending foot member above the rail base joined at its outer end to the upper member.

11. Asplice bar for rails, having a downwardly and outwardly slanting up er 'member, with a substantially vertica bolting face, joined to the outer end of a footmember fitting the 'top of the rail base and extending inwardly from a point vertically above its outer edge.

' 12. A splice bar for rails, having an upper i member slanting downwardly and outwardly to a foot member fitting the top-of I the railbase, and extending to its outer ed the upper member" having a substantia ly ing down to the vertical bolting face exten a' contracted foot member and also havin neck substantially equal in t ickness to thev thickness of the rail web 'oining it to the outer end of the foot mem r.

13. A splice bar for rails, having an upper member with bolt holes through it and with a substantially vertical outer .face and an upright inner face adjacent to the rail web, said member also'having an inner face slanting in a. dow-wardj and outward direction from its intersection with said upright inner facev to a point below a horizontaljacent to a'vertical plane atthe outer edge ofthe rail base.

14. A splice bar for rails havin wardly extending rib above the rail ase and anupper member extending in an upwardly and inwardly direction and gradually increasing to its greatest thickness adjacent to its top, said up er member having a substantially vertica outer face and oining the outer edge of the rail base.

plane through the center of said bolt holes and ad an in-' outer end of the said rib vertically above the A splice barfor rail havi'n'g an upper" A member with a substantia ly vertical outer face andan upright inner :face adjacent to the rail web; a foot member, and a portion extendin below the rail base, said upper member aving a substantially fiat inner face extending in a downward and outward direction from its intersection with said up-- right inner faceadjacent to the rail web to its point of'iutersection'with the foot themben'adjacent to the outer edge of the rail base.

16.- A splice bar for rails having an upper.

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member with a substantially vertical b0 face, and -an inwardly extending rib fitting the rail base, anda' portion extending below the rail hase,said 'up amember. extending inwardly and upwa ly and" dually-1ncreasin from. its least thickness at a point vertica y-iabo've thejouter of the rail base to'it's'greate'st'thickness 'a jacent to its 1 7. lice bar for. rails,'ln l ,ving an'upper inemberfg. foot member, a lower member below the rail base, all joined together member with a substantially vertical outer,

. of its thickest portion adjacent to its top to" its thinnest portion lat its. juncturewith the .foot member.

tent as to equal the thickest part of its upper portion.-

19. A splice bar for rails, having an upper face adjacent to the outer edge of the rail base, and a foot member extending to the outer edge of the rail base, said upper member oinin the foot member at its outer end and tapering gradually from the thickness 20. A splice bar fdr rails having an upper member with a head at its upper end and a contracted neckat its lower end, said menuher having a substantially vertical outer face and gradually decreasing. in thickness from fthe thickness of the head portion to the thickness of the neck portion, said membe r also extending in a downward and outward. direction to a point vertically above ,..the outer edge of the rail base.

21. In a railjoint, a splice bar for the rails having an upper member with its highest portion extending under the. heads of both'rails, and also having a bolting face located outside of the outer edge of the rail ,base,said member having bolt holes through it and gradually increasing in thickness to equal its thickest portion adjacent to its top, the bar having an inner face slanting in a downward and outward direction to a point below the center line of the bolt holesand adjacent tothe outer edge of the rail base. 22. In a rail joint, a splice] bar for the rails, having an upper member extending under the heads of both rails, and provided with a bolting face located outside of the outer edge of the rail base, and having an upright inner face adjacent to the rail web,

. said member having bolt holes through it, and an inner face thereof slanting in a downward and outward direction fromjts intersection with said upright face to a point below the center line of the bolt holes.

23. In a rail joint, a splice bar for the rails having an upper member with its highest point fitting under the rail head and with a bolting face located outside of the outer edge of the rail base, the bar also having an inner face adjacent to the rail web and another inner face extending in a downward and outward direction to a point adjacent to the outer-edges of the rail bases.

24. A. splice bar for rails having an upper member with a substantially vertical outer face located outside of the outer edge of the rail base, said member slanting downwardlyand outwardly and having an upper head portion and a lower contracted neck portion and gradually decreasing in thickness from the thickness of one portion to the thickness of the other.

25. -A splice bar for rails having an upper member with its highest portion fitting un- .der the rail head and an outer face located outside the outer edge of the rail base, a foot member fitting the top of the rail base, and a member extending below the railbase, said upper member having bolt holes through it and an inner face extending in a downwardly and outwardly direction to a point below the center line of the boltholes.

26. A splice bar for rails having an upper member with its highest portion fitting under the rail head, a foot member, and a portion extending below the rail base, said upper member having a bolting face outside of the outer edge of the rail base and extend ing in a downwardly and outwardly direc tion to the outer end of the foot member, said upper member gradually diminishing from the thickness of its thickest upper portion to its thinnest lower portion.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands.

WILLIAM P. THOMSON. SAMUEL e. THOMSON.

Witnesses HARRY L. STERLING, E. A. M ORTON. 

